Diagnostics methods for a communications device

ABSTRACT

A method facilitating the support of a communications device via diagnostic tools on the communications device and a remote computing device of monitoring predefined data elements associated with the operation of said communications device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/240,832, filed 9 Sep., 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to digital networks, and moreparticularly, it relates to a system and method for providingdiagnostics and troubleshooting tools for a communications device.

2. Description of the Related Art

IP Telephony (VoIP) is a converged voice/data technology that uses thedata networks to carry voice (telephone) traffic, and is rapidlyrevolutionizing the world of enterprise communications. Some benefits ofIP telephony include the ability to manage individual phone systems,access to a plethora of features and applications, improved reliability,improved performance, substantial cost savings and unified messaging.

Typically, SIP phones have a variety of features and functionalitiesthat can be used for support and troubleshooting. Similarly call serverpartners (hosted and CPE based) combine their own capabilities withthose of the phones to facilitate troubleshooting and support. Varioustools, such syslog, variable levels of logging, RTCP-XR call statistics,error messages menu on the Telephone User Interface (TUI), are currentlyused to help with troubleshooting and support. The tools generallycapture data to assist in the understanding of events or debuggingactions or events, such as, capturing WIRESHARK® traces, retrievingconfig files, turning syslog on. However, VOIP solutions can be complex,making troubleshooting field issues more difficult with currentcapabilities. Oftentimes, syslog data does not provide sufficient datato effect a thorough diagnosis of a problem, which can greatly impactthe problem resolution times. Prior art systems may also includenumerous modules that produce logs, with each module having a plethoraof logging levels, but with limited logging options for liveenvironments. As such, relying solely on these reactive prior arttroubleshooting methods leads to prolonged service interruptions for endusers, and also places a considerable burden on the end users

It is thus an object of the present invention to mitigate or obviate atleast one of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In another of its aspects, the present invention comprises a method forproviding diagnostics and troubleshooting tools for a communicationsdevice, the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   defining data elements to be monitored, the data elements being        associated with the operation of the communications device,    -   setting thresholds associated to the data elements, the        thresholds corresponding to the normal operation of the        communications device,    -   capturing diagnostics data related to the data elements to        determine the operational status of the communications device,    -   capturing abnormal events data outside the thresholds,    -   capturing contemporaneous fault events data,    -   storing the captured data and events on a computer readable        medium,    -   programming the communications device to report the captured        data and events to a remote computing device for fault analysis        and resolution,    -   whereby the remote computing device receives data related to the        nature of the fault and the data leading up to the fault, the        data being useful for efficient fault diagnosis and        troubleshooting and timely resolution of the fault.

In another of its aspects, the present invention comprises a method forproviding diagnostics and troubleshooting tools for a communicationsdevice, the method comprising the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   defining data elements to be monitored, the data elements being        associated with the operation of the communications device,    -   associating the data elements with thresholds, the thresholds        corresponding to the normal operation of the communications        device,    -   capturing diagnostics data related to the defined data elements        to determine the operational status of the communications        device,    -   capturing abnormal events data outside the thresholds,    -   capturing contemporaneous fault events data,    -   storing the events data on a computer readable medium,    -   programming a key on the communications device for activation by        an end-user to transmit the events data and the contemporaneous        fault events data to a remote computer for analysis,    -   whereby the remote computing device receives data related to the        nature of the fault and the data leading up to the fault, the        data being useful for efficient fault diagnosis and        troubleshooting and timely resolution of the fault.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a system forfault diagnosis of a communications device, the system comprising:

at least one diagnostic application program associated with saidcommunications device;

a remote computing device configured to receive diagnostic data fromsaid communications device for further analysis and diagnosis of thereported fault,

said communications device comprising a computer readable mediumcomprising said least one diagnostic application program comprising afirst program code for defining data elements to be monitored, said dataelements being associated with the operation of said communicationsdevice, a second program code for defining setting thresholds associatedto said data elements, wherein said thresholds corresponding to thenormal operation of said communications device, a third program code forcapturing diagnostics data related to said defined data elements todetermine the operational status of said communications device, and forcapturing abnormal events data outside said thresholds and capturingcontemporaneous fault events data,

a fourth program code comprising instructions to send said captured dataand events to a predetermined remote computing device for fault analysisand resolution.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a methodfacilitating the support of a communications device via diagnostic toolsassociated with the communications device and a remote computer, such asa call server, a gateway or a switch. The remote computer is configuredto receive data from the communications device for further analysis anddiagnosis of the reported problem.

Advantageously, the application programs monitor the operational statusof the communications device, and log a plurality of events, includingthresholds associated with data elements, and transmit the log dataincluding any contemporaneous or live fault events data to a remotecomputer for analysis, such that the remote computer receives datarelated to the nature of the fault and the data leading up to saidfault, thus facilitating substantially faster diagnosis of the fault.The present invention provides for more proactive diagnostics whichplace less of a burden on the end users, by reporting call statisticsfor monitoring purposes, flagging excessive memory use on thecommunications device, and notification of network conditions. Thediagnostic tests may be executed in live production environments, andprovide memory/CPU load data, call state/msg sequences, which assist inthe resolution of intermittent issues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed, by way of example only, with reference to the appendeddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a communication system, in an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart outlining exemplary steps in a method fordiagnostics and support of a communications device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the inventionherein makes reference to the accompanying block diagrams and schematicdiagrams, which show the exemplary embodiment by way of illustration andits best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, it should be understood that other embodiments may berealized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the detaileddescription herein is presented for purposes of illustration only andnot of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the methodor process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not limitedto the order presented.

Moreover, it should be appreciated that the particular implementationsshown and described herein are illustrative of the invention and itsbest mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of thepresent invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, certainsub-components of the individual operating components, conventional datanetworking, application development and other functional aspects of thesystems may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, theconnecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein areintended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physicalcouplings between the various elements. It should be noted that manyalternative or additional functional relationships or physicalconnections may be present in a practical system.

The present invention may also be described herein in terms of screenshots and flowcharts, optional selections and various processing steps.Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/orsoftware components configured to perform to specified functions. Forexample, the present invention may employ various integrated circuitcomponents (e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements,look-up tables, and the like), which may carry out a variety offunctions under the control of one or more microprocessors or othercontrol devices. Similarly, the software elements of the presentinvention may be implemented with any programming or scripting languagesuch as C, C++, Java, assembler, PERL, extensible markup language (XML),smart card technologies with the various algorithms being implementedwith any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines orother programming elements. Further, it should be noted that the presentinvention may employ any number of conventional techniques for datatransmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and the like.

FIG. 1 shows a system 10 for providing diagnostics and troubleshootingtools for a communications device 12. The communications device 12 iscommunicatively coupled to other network entities, such as a computingdevice 14 via a network 16, such as the Internet. The term“communicatively coupled” is used in its broadest sense to mean couplingin any fashion that allows information to be passed between thecommunications device 12, and other network devices within the network16, such as the call server 14, or other servers, gateways, routers,switches, and so forth. Thus, for example, a communicatively coupledcommunications device 12 can be coupled either directly or indirectlyvia electromagnetic signals, such as electrically coupled, opticallycoupled, wirelessly coupled; and/or physically coupled.

An exemplary communications device 12 comprises a diagnostic module andtools which run hardware diagnostics to indicate any hardware and/orsoftware issues. Such tools include, but are not limited to: ping,traceroute, syslog, call recorder (RTP stream), while diagnostic testsand/or data elements include: checking Rx/Tx paths and loop back port;checking connectivity to headset, consoles or identifying the hardwareRMAs quickly.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart outlining the method steps for providingdiagnostics and troubleshooting tools for the communications device 12,the method comprises the steps of:

defining data elements to be monitored, the data elements beingassociated with the operation of the communications device 12, (step100)

associating the data elements with thresholds, where the thresholdscorrespond to the normal operation of the communications device 12,(step 102)

capturing diagnostics data related to the defined data elements todetermine the operational status of the communications device 12, (step104)

capturing events data within predefined thresholds/normal events, eventsdata outside predefined thresholds/abnormal events, contemporaneous/livefault events, (step 106)

storing the events data on a computer readable medium, (step 108)

programming the communications device 12 to report the captured data andevents to a remote computing device 14 for fault analysis andresolution, (step 110)

such that the remote computing device 14 receives data related to thenature of the fault and the data leading up to the reported fault, whichis useful for efficient fault diagnosis and troubleshooting and timelyresolution of the reported fault.

The above method will now be described in detail. The execution of thehardware diagnostics or logging may be triggered automatically, by theend user, or by remote activation by a call server 14 or by supportstaff. For example, the above-noted tools may be configured to sendresults/data files to a specified destination, such as a remotecomputer, call server 14 or service provider. End user triggers involvethe end user evoking support actions or capturing logs for an activecall. Accordingly, the communications device 12 comprises a key or softkeys programmed to evoke specific diagnostic execution, or initiateautomatic capture of support data, upon activation of the key, as willbe described below. Additional, the end user may initiate logging via asupport menu on the user interface (TUI) that provides multiplediagnostics and allow the user to capture SIP-related data or trackmemory usage, or evoke syslog. Advantageously, an end user may triggerthe capture of data related to intermittent problems, which areotherwise substantially difficult to reproduce and/or capturediagnostics information. As part of the programming process, predefined“data elements” may be assigned to key or “Support Key”, and uponactivation (key press); the communications device 12 captures thedefined elements and stores the data in a “support” file (similar to acrash file). As the file size may be limited due to memory constraintsof the communications device 12, the support key may be used inconjunction with a circular event log as a data element. The circularevent log records significant events in a data file for storage on thecomputer readable medium of the communications device 12, and thissupport file may be retrieved from the communications device 12, asneeded. Effectively, the circular event log provides an easier means toobtain snapshot of status of the communications device 12, rather thanenabling syslog. Typically, the file is limited in size, and so once thecircular buffer style is full, the oldest logs are written over. Bynature, this file contains historical data and when combined with a userinitiated action (“support key”), captures events that precede an issue,thus providing the likely causes of the problem. Other exemplary dataelements may include: short RTP recording, stack trace, memory statusand line manager/SIP stack status. The support file may be automaticallyexported to a remote computer, call server 14 or service provider;alternatively the support file may be remotely retrieved from the remotecomputer, call server 14 or the service provider, as part of the actiontaken when the user presses the support key.

In more detail, the circular event log recording may be activatedremotely or by a local admin, and runs in a production environment. Thecaptured data may include significant status metrics, including otherserious error conditions, such as: memory status (periodical, high andlow stats); timeouts (DNS, Registration, SIP Proxy); module restarts;module critical errors; MOS score of previous calls; and error codes/lognumbers (minimal size of data). The circular event log may also captureother events, such as, end user “support key” activation event or a SIPNotify message corresponding to an event change or changes to thecommunications device 12.

In another exemplary embodiment, remote logging activation may beinitiated by the communications device 12 sending notification of afailed registration to the call server 14 or support staff. Generally,automated triggering may be result of an event related to any of theabove-noted diagnostic tests being outside defined bounds or failing.For example, an automated trigger may occur in the event of a abnormalreboot (crash); a communications device 12 reboot, a registrationfailure, an authentication failure (Certificate/TLS, SIP accountauthentication, LLDP); failure to download config file or CSV; lack ofresponse from another network entity (such as, a NTP server, a SIPproxy, a DNS server, or a DHCP server); approaching memory usagethresholds; low MOS scores (voice quality), invalid config parameterparsed, or other abnormal events. The call server 14 or support staffmay turn the data capture on or off via SIP NOTIFY, an XML object or aconfig file, or turn on individual event triggers or groups of eventstriggers. The system 10 comprises a mechanism for remotely and locallytransferring config files (server and local) from the communicationsdevice 12 together with other data files, such as a crash file or anevent log. The user/admin of the communications device 12 provides a“PUSH” function, while the remote support staff have a “GET” capability.The activation method is firewall friendly, such as XML object in SIPNOTIFY. The mechanism may include a TUI and WebUI to export data filesto a configured destination, via a defined transmission protocol.Additionally, the file name syntax may include the MAC address of thecommunications device 12 and time stamp, in order to avoid duplicationfrom other devices 12.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the communications device 12automatically and independently pushes a data file once created, to apre-configured destination via a pre-configured protocol. As statedabove, the file may be a crash file or any data captured followingactivation of the “support key”, and the file name syntax may includethe MAC address of the communications device 12 and time stamp, in orderto avoid duplication from other devices. The communications device 12may also send notification that an event trigger has been evoked andthat data has been captured. The communications device 12 may alsoinclude a TUI error menu for notification of errors/issues, such asregistration, TLS, LLDP failures, or Web UI error menu, similar to theTUI, but with more information.

As stated above, following an event and logging data related to saidevent, the data may be stored in a file on the computer readable mediumand/or may be transmitted automatically to a computer, call server orservice provider. The file naming format may include the identity of thedevice and time and potentially type/content of data. In one exemplarysituation, the data is uploaded automatically during idle cycles, as abackground task. Additionally, the communications device 12 may beconfigured with a destination for data to be uploaded to, via XML, SIPNOTIFY, config files, and so forth, and the data may be sent via variousprotocols, such as, FTP or HTTP, as discussed previously. Given thepossible constraints on memory capacity of the communications device 12,the data may be streamed to the remote computer, call server 14 orservice provider when memory usage approaches predefined thresholds.Alternatively, a circular buffer may be used, as discussed above.

In another exemplary embodiment, the system 10 comprises syslog loggingenhancements, in which the syslog capabilities are enhanced to produce arefined range of logging levels and updated format that targets a widertechnical audience. The refined levels specifically target liveproduction environments, and the format enables the partner supportstaff and/or the service provider to process logs and diagnose a widerrange of issues without the need for further engineering processes orburden to the service provider. Advantageously, the enhanced formatfacilitates earlier qualification of issues, as opposed to prior artsyslog output that is typically raw and cryptic and often only of valueto engineering. The refined log data and format comprises moremeaningful description and information, for example, info log; warningerror log; critical error log; potentially add numbering and syntax toassist downstream parsing of syslog data by off-board application. Theenhanced logs help guide support staff to specific focus areas, forexample, network issues; configuration issues; call state issues;memory/CPU issues, and also help to initiate more appropriate datacapture without having to refer back to engineering in a time consumingiterative process.

In another exemplary embodiment, the system 10 comprises additionalevent logs (based on refined format) for events that may assist in thediagnosis of issues. Although syslog is generally the fundamentalvehicle to get additional information with respect to the communicationsdevice 12 operation, additional specific logs, such as, networktimeouts; SIP error messaging; registration and authentication failures(with error codes); failure to download configuration files; memoryutilisation; call state errors; failover to backup proxy, assist in thediagnosis of issues.

In another exemplary embodiment, the system 10 comprises productionsyslog profiles having multiple sets of “logging profiles” that may bereliably run in production environments. These profiles assist ininitial investigations when attempting to qualify problems. In addition,different problems require different logs, such as, voice path issuesneed RTP; line state issues need call state info; SIP signaling errorsneed SIP message trace. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, multiplerecommended logging profiles for live environment are defined andqualified, with each profile targeting more defined problem areas, forexample, call state issues use a profile may capture output from variousmodules. In addition, high risk configurations may be identified, suchas, a receptionist with 50 BLFs, 9 SCA lines; and corresponding testingof the various profiles and configurations is carried out in order toprovide confidence for live production use.

In another exemplary embodiment, the system 10 comprises a method forperiodically determining the memory utilization and a mechanism torecord that information, and includes multiple levels of recording suchthat some data can be captured in a production environment. Therecording of memory statistics is triggered based on a predefinedthreshold (for example, free memory less than critical operating level),including additional options to activate if the defined threshold isreached. However, the logging may also be activated via variousmechanisms, such as the syslog mechanism, remote activation, or the enduser. Once activated such statistics may be recorded at appropriate timeintervals, and may be reset or configured to be cleared on reboots.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system 10 comprises a methodfor recording config file parsing errors and providing said parsingerrors for all invalid or ignored configuration statements to thesupport staff or administrator for review. Typically, when parsing theconfig files all entries not successfully processed are ignored by thecommunications device 12. The mechanism for capture may be via syslog,or WebUI/TUI, and the error reporting may be categorized depending onthe error, such as, configuration; network (LLDP, TLS certs, and soforth); SIP (registration failure and reason code), and so forth.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system 10 provides “boot-up”information to the admin user, and is available from the communicationsdevice 12 WebUI and/or TUI rather than only via syslog. The boot-up datamay include data related to: IP configuration data (DHCP or static), DNSlookup data (was DNS lookup successful or is not being used),configuration files (which files were downloaded or not downloaded), SIPregistration status, authentication status (LLDP, TLS; any timeouts orretries on server requests, such as DHCP/DNS/NTP); SIP trace (verbose,headers only); RTP packets (Rx/TX, Rx, Tx); WIRESHARK® information(after remote activation—without need for hub/PC/user involvement);memory usage; current syslog and level settings; crash log for abnormalreboots; register settings/stack trace; memory usage/free memory; CPUutilisation; local and server config files; and Config file parsingresults (invalid parameters).

In another embodiment, the call server 14 platform includes a serviceprovider “support” portal that acts as a recipient storage device forthe communication data elements, as such is the destination point forfiles that can be manually or automatically uploaded from the devices12. The platform incorporates a server for hosting a syslog application(as part of the solution provided to service providers). The call server14 platform also serves to initiate remote or support event triggers,such as allowing config files to be pulled from the communicationsdevice 12 remotely, pulling the circular event file and the crash file,or activating syslog via changing of the communications device 12configuration. The call server 14 platform may also execute a log parserapplication that processes syslog files into more intelligible format;and may include a notification server for flagging events/data capture,and a server for recording call-related information for every singlecall through the call server 14, switch, or router, in order tofacilitate faster problem diagnosis for timely resolutions.

The communications device 12 may be any IP device or endpoint (end node)for participating in a packet switched network, such as, but not limitedto, IP phones, H.323 phones, DECT phones, SIP-DECT phones, ATAs, mobilephones, IPTVs, projectors, PDAs, digital cameras, PC, MP3 players,set-top boxes, game consoles, gateways, soft phones, firewalls,access-points, modems, network appliances, or any combination(s)thereof. The exemplary communications device 12 includes a dataprocessing means comprising a processor (which may be referred to as acentral processor unit or CPU, logic means, or controller) that is incommunication with a machine-readable medium (computer-readable medium),input/output (I/O) devices, a network interface, and other interfaces. Acomputer-readable medium is any physical object that can storeinformation in a form directly readable by a computer. Thus, magnetic,optical, and electrical storage devices are all contemplated, as well asany other method of storing information directly accessible to acomputer. Hard disks, floppy disks, CD/DVD ROM drives, RAM chips,magnetic tapes, barcodes, punch cards, and the like are all examples ofcomputer-readable media. The computer-readable medium includes anoperating system, application programs.

An exemplary server 14 includes processor means, a computer-readablemedium, network interface means, and I/O interface means. Thecomputer-readable medium includes an operating system, applicationprograms, and data related to the diagnostics files of saidcommunications devices 12.

The network 16 can include a series of network nodes (such as, theclients and servers) that can be interconnected by network devices andwired and/or wireless communication lines (such as, public carrierlines, private lines, satellite lines, etc.) that enable the networknodes to communicate. The transfer of data between network nodes can befacilitated by network devices, such as routers, switches, multiplexers,bridges, gateways, etc., that can manipulate and/or route data from anoriginating node to a server node regardless of dissimilarities in thenetwork topology (such as, bus, star, token ring, mesh, or hybridsthereof), spatial distance (such as, LAN, MAN, WAN, Internet),transmission technology (such as, TCP/IP, Systems Network Architecture),data type (such as, data, voice, video, multimedia), nature ofconnection (such as, switched, non-switched, dial-up, dedicated, orvirtual), and/or physical link (such as, optical fiber, coaxial cable,twisted pair, wireless, etc.) between the correspondents within thenetwork.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variations thereof, are intendedto cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method,article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not includeonly those elements but may include other elements not expressly listedor inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, noelement described herein is required for the practice of the inventionunless expressly described as “essential” or “critical.”

The preceding detailed description is presented for purposes ofillustration only and not of limitation, and the scope of the inventionis defined by the preceding description, and with respect to theattached claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A method for providingdiagnostics and troubleshooting tools for a communications device, themethod comprising the steps of: defining data elements to be monitored,said data elements being associated with the operation of saidcommunications device; associating the data elements with thresholds,said thresholds corresponding to the normal operation of saidcommunications device; capturing diagnostics data related to said dataelements to determine the operational status of said communicationsdevice; capturing abnormal events data outside said thresholds;capturing contemporaneous fault events data; storing said captured dataand events on a computer readable medium; programming saidcommunications device to report said captured data and events to aremote computing device for fault analysis and resolution; whereby saidremote computing device receives data related to the nature of the faultand the data leading up to said fault, said data being useful forefficient fault diagnosis and troubleshooting and timely resolution ofsaid fault; and wherein said communications device includes a supportkey, said support key being at least one key or at least one soft keyassociated with said data elements, such that activation of said atleast one key or said at least one soft key causes at least oneapplication program to initiate said capturing of data and at least oneother action.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said communicationsdevice includes a circular buffer associated with said support key and acircular event log data element for recording significant events relatedto said fault and preceding said activation of said support key, wherebysaid circular event log data provide the likely causes of said fault. 3.The method of claim 2 wherein said programming said activation of saidsupport key transmits said data related to said support key and thecorresponding circular event log data contemporaneously to a remotecomputing device for fault analysis and resolution.
 4. The method ofclaim 2 wherein said circular event log recording runs in a productionenvironment, and comprises data related to status metrics and errorconditions, including but not limited to: memory status (periodical,high and low stats); timeouts (DNS, Registration, SIP Proxy); modulerestarts; module critical errors; MOS score of previous calls; and errorcodes/log numbers (minimal size of data); end user “support key”activation events, SIP Notify messages.
 5. The method of claim 4 furthercomprising recording configuration file parsing errors and providingsaid parsing errors corresponding to invalid or ignored configurationstatements for review, wherein said parsing errors are categorizeddepending on the type of error.
 6. A system for fault diagnosis of acommunications device, the system comprising: at least one diagnosticapplication program associated with said communications device; a remotecomputing device configured to receive diagnostic data from saidcommunications device for further analysis and diagnosis of the reportedfault; said communications device comprising a computer readable mediumcomprising said least one diagnostic application program comprising afirst program code for defining data elements to be monitored, said dataelements being associated with the operation of said communicationsdevice; a second program code for defining setting thresholds associatedto said data elements, wherein said thresholds corresponding to thenormal operation of said communications device; a third program code forcapturing diagnostics data related to said defined data elements todetermine the operational status of said communications device; and forcapturing abnormal events data outside said thresholds and capturingcontemporaneous fault events data; a fourth program code comprisinginstructions to send said captured data and events to a predeterminedremote computing device for fault analysis and resolution; and whereinsaid communications device includes a support key, said support keybeing at least one key or at least one soft key associated with saiddata elements, such that activation of said at least one key or said atleast one soft key causes at least one application program to initiatesaid capturing of data and at least one other action.
 7. The system ofclaim 6 wherein communications device comprises a circular bufferassociated with said support key and a circular event log data elementfor recording significant events related to said fault and precedingsaid activation of said support key, whereby said circular event logdata provide the likely causes of said fault.
 8. The system of claim 7wherein activation of said support key transmits said data and thecorresponding circular event log data contemporaneously to a remotecomputing device for fault analysis and resolution.
 9. The system ofclaim 7 wherein said circular event log recording runs in a productionenvironment, and comprises data related to status metrics and errorconditions, including but not limited to: memory status (periodical,high and low stats); timeouts (DNS, Registration, SIP Proxy); modulerestarts; module critical errors; MOS score of previous calls; and errorcodes/log numbers (minimal size of data); end user “support key”activation events, SIP Notify messages.
 10. The system of claim 9further comprising recording configuration file parsing errors andproviding said parsing errors corresponding to invalid or ignoredconfiguration statements for review, wherein said parsing errors arecategorized depending on the type of error.
 11. The system of claim 6wherein said communications device provides “boot-up” information via aweb user interface (WebUI) and/or said device user interface, saidboot-up data comprising data related to at least one of IP configurationdata (DHCP or static), DNS lookup data, configuration files, SIPregistration status, authentication status (LLDP, TLS; any timeouts orretries on server requests, such as DHCP/DNS/NTP), SIP trace (verbose,headers only), RTP packets (Rx/TX, Rx, Tx), WIRESHARK® information,memory usage, current syslog and level settings, crash log for abnormalreboots; register settings/stack trace, memory usage/free memory, CPUutilisation, local & server config files, and config file parsingresults (invalid parameters).
 12. The system of claim 6 wherein saidremote computing device is a server comprising a service provider“support” portal that acts as a recipient storage device for said dataelements, said server further comprising a syslog application program.13. The system of claim 12 wherein said server initiates remote orsupport event triggers for acquiring config files, circular event files,and the crash file from said communications devices, or activatingsyslog.
 14. The system of claim 6 wherein said diagnostics datacomprises production syslog profiles comprising multiple sets of loggingprofiles capable of being executed in a live production environments.